The Virgin and Child on the Crescent
1523
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1523
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Virgin and Child on the Crescent is a 1523 ink by Lucas van Leyden, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a woman holding a small child, both looking down. She wears a long robe with folds carved into the paper, and her hair flows behind her. The child reaches toward her face. In the background, rays of light stream down from above. A crescent moon sits under her feet, and a staff with a bundle of grapes leans against her leg. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and light, making the figures pop. This style is called cross-hatching—layering lines to create depth. Look up *cross-hatching* to see how artists turn ink into 3D shapes.
